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- UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY HALES, on RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, Assrcnoa T0 n. w. HAnns,

on SAME PLACE.

WOOD-FILLER.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 317,125, dated May 5,1885.

Application filed July 9, 1884. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY HALES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ridgewood, Bergen county, New Jersey, have invented certainImprovements in l/Vood-Fillers, of which the following is aspecification.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a composition for filling thegrain of wood in the process of finishing the latter. Many substancesand compounds of substances have been employed for this purposesuch asstarch, ground Indian corn, powdered flint, quartz, clay, &c.-some ofwhich have been discarded, while others have produced measurably goodresults; but in all cases, so far as I am aware, the users have beencompelled to employ two compositions, one for dark and the other forlight woods, as the composition adapted for light woods would leavewhite specks and streaks on dark woods. This employment of specialcompositions for the different woods has serious disadvantages whenemployed on mosaic work, or any work where light and dark woods arebrought into juxtaposition, as the dark composition will injure theappearance of the light woods, and the light composition that of thedark woods.

My object is to furnish a filling composition of a transparent naturethat may be used on all woods indifierently. To light woods it impartsonly sufficient color to full-y develop the grain, which the ordinarylight fillers do not do, and when used on dark woods its transparency issuch that it leaves no perceptible mark of its presence. Thus I amenabled to use it with excellent results on mosaic or inlaid work madeup of woods of all kinds. I also avoid the use of all coloring-pigments,such as are commonly employed in such compositions to match the woods,and which always produce a muddy effect and obscure the natural grain ofthe wood.

My composition comprises finely-powdered soapstone or talc,finelypowdered glass or other similar transparent or nearly transparentsubstance, and a suitable liquid vehicle, which is or may be oil orJapan varnish. The soapstone enables the operator to obtain a betterpolish than could be obtained with the glass alone.

In making and using my composition I usually proceed as follows: I mixtogether, dry, about equal parts, by preference, of powdered glass andpowdered soapstone, and then add enough linseed-oil to form a thickputty-like mass. To this I add Japan varnish in quantity sufficient toreduce the mass to the consistency of cream. This may be suitablythinned with oil or turpentine before using, if desired or necessary. Iapply the filling composition with a brush in the usual way, and whenset or thickened rubit well into the wood. The surplus should then berubbed off with clean rags or shavings. This produces a hardhighlypolished, glossy surface which is not affected by dampness.

My compound is a mere mechanical mixture, there being no'noticeablechemical reactions when the ingredients are brought together. Thereforea variation in the proportions of the vehicle used is not a veryessential matter. The following proportions, however, will produce goodresults, and may be followed with confidence. Tofifty pounds each ofpowdered soapstone and powdered glass add ten quarts of linseed-oil andsix quarts of Japan varnish.

, I prefer linseed-oil and Japan varnish, but cotton-seed oil and copalvarnish, for example, may be substituted therefor. As the Japan is usedas a drier to cause the compound to set quickly, the proportion of copalvarnish would require to be somewhat greater than that of the Japan, asit is less effective than the latter as a drier.

The proportion of soapstone added tothe compound may be variedconsiderably without injury. Its function is mainly to enhance thepolish, and I have given what I consider about the best proportion wherethe composi- 1. A wood-filling composition consisting of In witnesswhereof I have hereunto signed 10 the following ingredients, namely: ofpowmy name in the presence of two subscribing dered soapstone ofpowdered glass, and of a witnesses.

suitable liquid Vehicle, substantially as de- 5 scribed. HENRY HALES.

2. Awood-filling composition consisting of i powdered glass, powderedsoapstone, linseed- Witnesses:

oil, and Japan varnish, substantially as set "WM. H, CHAPMAN, forth. J.F. GRUsE.

